James j



(No Model.) V

J. J. KING 8v W. J.'WORLEY.,

.7 CAR COUPLING. No. 355,401. Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

lllllllllllll Mfljllll rBl w n Lewes I v 4 gwhmtoz-s' l UNITED STATES PATE T QEEICEQ JAMES J. KING, OF JASPER, AND WILLIAM J. woEL Y, oE DAnLonEeA, GA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,401, dated January 4-, 1887.

Application filed May 6, 1886. Serial No. 201,348. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES J. Knve and WILLI M J. WORLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Jasper and Dahlonega, respectively, in the counties of Pickens and Lumpkin, respectively, and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gar-Couplers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to car-couplers, and has for its object the provision of a coupler which Shall be automatic in its action and sure in operation, and at the same time capable of coupling cars or trucks of any differing heights.

To accomplish the ends proposed, we make a double-ended jaw-link, which has the jaws at each end pivoted to the center piece or pivot-block, with liberty to be moved up or down. The jaws are made with sufficientelasticity in their sides to permit them to open sufficiently to receive the coupling-pin between them, and their spring shut with sufficient firmness and stiffness to securely hold the same from opening to permit the escape of the pin.

To aid in holding the pin, the meeting portions of the jaws may be provided with a concealed' spring, which permits the pin to be insorted between them,

but effectually guards its being accidentally withdrawn; or the jaws may be made with a curved entrancepassage, giving all the rear abutting surface to one side or part, so as to hold the pin against it alone, with no opportunity for it to be withdrawn.

\Ve may also make a link or coupling device in one solid piece with the jaws offset or on different horizontal planes at the two ends, and this form can be used so as to couple a higher or lower truck by simply reversing it in the holding car or truck. To prevent the jaws from dropping too low, we provide a second bolt or pin, which couples against the pairof jaws on each end and passes through a slot in the pivot-piece to retain the jaws within certain limits of movement, giving them movement in an arc of sufficient scope to admit of considerable variation, sufficient to couple to any height of truck; Instead of having this second bolt pass entirely through the pivot-piece, we may employ projections or pins on each jaw, which will extend into the slot in the pivot-piece and hold the jaws in the same degrees of movement; but these studs or projections will not in any degree effect the elasticity of the jaws.

We prefer to use a peculiar-shaped coupling-pin, triangular in cross-section, with the point of the triangle presented to the flaring ends of the jaws. Thiswill give a flat surface upon the rear of the pin, to hold in thejaws,

and will effectually prevent its accidental escape from the jaws in a horizontal direction; but a round pin can be used with good effect.

Our coupler does away with the necessity for the brakeman or other operative going in between the cars to effect the coupling. This gives great saving in the way of time and cortainty, as well as preventing many of the calamities and accidents which befall employs of the railroad when engaged in coupling cars.

In using our device, if it should be found that the jaws are not set at proper height to enter the draw-head of the car or truck to be coupled to it, it is only necessary to raise or lower the jaws by means of a rod or stick, or by hand, if desired.

The manner in which we construct, apply, and use our device will be more fully described in the following detailed specification, and the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what we consider the best means for carrying our invention into practice.

Figure 1 is a plan view ofapivoted form of coupler. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the solid form. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of Fig. 1, taken longitudinally. Fig. 4 Shows the manner of applying the same to a car and rods for controlling it. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pivot-block. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the jaw. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the pivotpin.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

Ais the pivot-piece, to which are secured the two pairs ofjaws B B, extending out from the block in opposite directions. These jaws are provided with flaring mouths Z) and internal shoulders, 22*. They possess sufficient elasticity to permit them to be sprung open by the pressure of the pin, and will spring back together when the pin passes and hold it securely against the shoulders 6*. This action makes the device automatic in its operation of coupling. The jaws being pivoted, as shown, to the piece A, they can be raised or lowered to almost any extent, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and not only is this done by raising and lowering the jaws on the outer or free end, but also by moving the pivot-piece up or down, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. By this means we are enabled to couple two trucks or cars of almost any height with the same facility that is done with those of same height. As shown in full lines in Fig. 4, trucks of the same height may be also coupled with our coupler.

To facilitate the entrance of the pin between the jaws, we prefer to form it as shown in Fig. 1, triangular in cross-section, and have the point of the triangle presented to the flaring mouths of the jaws, so as to spread them readily. The pin is marked G, and, as shown, the back 0, which will bear against theshoulders b* when the coupling is efl'ected,is flat and less liable to force the jaws apart and uncouple the cars; but a round pin can be usedwith good effect and the danger of uncoupling be very slight.

To guard against uncoupling in a most effectual manner, in case any trouble should arise or be anticipated from this cause, we may provide a concealed spring, as shown at d, Fig. 3, which presents no resistance to the ready entrance of the pin, but effectually prevents its escape, as it will not open outward at all; or we may form the two jaws or parts which form the pair of different construction as to entrance-passage between them, and also as regards the shoulder 12*. As shown in Fig. 1, one jaw or side is made entirely without shoulder, while the other one fills the entire space between the jaws by a broad shoulder, b*, and the entrance-passage for admitting the pin is curved or inclined to the side, as shown at b**. Either of these forms will eflectually prevent the escape of the pin in case escape is threatened or possible from the form of jaw shown in Fig. 1.

To limit the movement of tical arc and the jaws in a verprevent them from dropping down so low as not to be readily recovered and held in line for application to the truck, we provide means, as shown in Fig. 3, which consists of a slot formed in the pivot-piece, and marked a, through or into which the bolts or extensions B on the jaws extend. This slot is sulficiently long to permit the jaws to swing in an arc of, say, one-fourth or one-sixth of a circle, and thereby accommodate themselves to a truck of any practical height, but does not permit them to drop so low as to be difiicult to recover and bring back into line with the draw-head of the car to be coupled to. The bolts, when used, unite the two jaws, and

might impair their elasticity, and on that ac- 7 count we have provided the projections or studs, as shown, which do not extend entirely through the pivot-piece, and do not unite the aws.

In some instances we may dispense with the pivot-piece and form the two pairs of jaws integral, as shown in Fig. 2. In such casethey are offset from each other and occupy difl'erent'horizontal planes, and can be turned up or down, as indicated infull and dotted lines in the said figure.

The pivot-pin is square or non-circular at each end, as shown at (1, so that it will turn with the jaws and cause them to work together, and round at d in the center, to permit it to turn freely in the pivot-block. The holes b in the jaws are also square or noncircular.

In any and all of the forms shown our coup,- ler is automatic in its operation, is adjustable so as to fit or suit trucks of any height, and can be operated without the presence of the brakeman or other employ between the cars.

We provide rods, as shown at 66, for managing both the coupler and the pin. The coupler is made of any suitable material.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A car-coupler having a pair of pivoted jaws on each end, each pair being capable of adjustment in a vertical arc,whereby the coupler is adapted to engage a pin upon a high, low, or medium height truck, as set forth.

2. A oar-coupler consisting of the central pivot-piece and the'pair of pivoted jaws on each end, both pairs of jaws and the pivotpiece being relatively movable in vertical directions, as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, a pair of jaws having an entrance-passage between them for the pin, formed in a double inclined or curved direction and terminating at the inner end on one side of the open space between the sides of the jaws, so that one of the jaws only has the abutment for the pin to rest against when the coupler is in use. I

4. The combination of the pivot-piece having the vertical slots, as described, and the jaws pivoted at their inner ends to said pivotpiece, and having projections or bolts for entering said slots and limiting the movement of the jaws, as set forth.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the central pivot piece and jaws pivoted thereto at each end in such manner as to enable the jaws and the pivot-piece to be adjusted vertically, of a rod or connection extending to the top of the car and connected to the outer jaws to control, elevate, or depress said jaws and pivot-piece, as set forth.

6. A car-coupler consisting of the central 5 pivot-piece, A, the pair of jaws B B, pivoted thereto at each end and capable of adjustment,

as described, and a spring-latch, d, set in the opening between the jaws in such position as to be covered and hidden by said jaws when [0 closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the coupling-jaws 

